Method and apparatus for detecting electromagnetic waves
AssigneeMission Research Corporation
InventorAlfonso R. Torres
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A detector facilitates visualization of electromagnetic radiation, including radio frequency radiation. The electromagnetic radiation is converted to thermal energy by partial absorption of the radiation, and is made visually observable by coupling the pattern of thermal energy to a thermally-responsive imaging surface, such as a liquid crystal display.
Claims29
An apparatus for detecting a range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, comprising:
- an electromagnetic radiation-absorbing material operable to generate heat from absorbed electromagnetic radiation, said radiation-absorbing material configured to absorb no more than 0.5% of electromagnetic radiation intersecting said material;
- and
- a thermally responsive indicator in thermal communication with said radiation-absorbing material.
An apparatus configured to provide a visual indication of electromagnetic radiation, comprising:
- a first medium comprising a plurality of carbon particles within a matrix material, said first medium having a sheet resistivity of 1,000 to 5,000 ohms per square;
- and
- a heat responsive display adhesively coupled to said first medium, and in thermal communication with said first medium.
An indicator of multiple frequencies of radio frequency radiation comprising:
- a first medium comprising a plurality of carbon particles and having a sheet resistance of 1,000 to 5,000 ohms per square, said first medium having a first inner surface;
- and
- a display medium comprising a liquid crystal sheet, said display medium coupled to said first medium with said liquid crystal sheet in thermal communication with said first inner surface of said first medium.
A method of detecting electromagnetic radiation, comprising the steps of:
- converting at least a portion of said electromagnetic radiation to thermal energy;
- and
- converting said thermal energy to a visual image.
A method of detecting radiation patterns of electromagnetic radiation over a range of frequencies, comprising the steps of:
- intersecting said electromagnetic radiation with a material selected to absorb said radiation and to generate thermal energy in a pattern generally corresponding to the pattern of said electromagnetic radiation, said material having a resistivity selected to absorb no more than 0.5% of said electromagnetic radiation intersecting said material;
- and
- providing a visual image of said thermal energy pattern.
A method of detecting radio frequency emissions over a range of frequencies, comprising the steps of:
- intersecting said radio frequency emissions with a first material having a plurality of carbon particles distributed therein, the density of said plurality of carbon particles selected to absorb no greater than 0.5% of said radio frequency emissions and to generate heat in response to said absorption;
- and
- placing a liquid crystal sheet in thermal communication with said first material to provide a visual indicator of said radio frequency emissions.
A method of manufacturing a broad band radio frequency detector, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first material having a plurality of carbon particles therein, said first material having a first surface, said first material having a sheet resistance of 1,000 to 5,000 ohms per square;
- providing a sheet of liquid crystal, said liquid crystal sheet having a second surface;
- and
- coupling said first material to said liquid crystal sheet with said first and second surfaces placed in generally opposed adjacent relation to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.